It has often been mentioned that the average PPL training does not prepare one for life as a PPL pilot - it prepares for the exam. Once the paper is there, the school has done its duty. One demanding person has even been known to rant that the average PPL instructior rarely leaves the a/d traffic circuit, being unqualified to teach anything except circuit flying.
The best thing you could do imho is, now already, if you can spare time and budget, join established pilots on their bimcles. Many will be glad to have a guest, either to share the cost of the flight or to relieve them of some work, R/T for example, or both.
Or read through the very numerous trip reports available on the www and try to imagine which would be fit for you. Only let me warn you not to be too ambitious: your first solo navigations should not be too far away, neither to challenging aerodromes or airspace.